Troops to police Guinea borders

Troops from four countries will make up the Ecomog force

West African defence chiefs have agreed to send over 1,500 troops to Guinea to patrol its borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), meeting in Nigeria, announced 1,676 soldiers from Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal would be deployed within a month.

"They will protect the borders, facilitate the free movement of persons as well as ensure security for humanitarian agencies and refugees," said a statement from Ecowas.

Like previous regional peacekeeping missions the force will have an initial mandate of six months.

Since September there have been rebel incursions into Guinea, causing hundreds of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

Difficult task

Equipment for the peacekeepers will initially be provided by the four countries, which are contributing troops, but Ecowas said the international community would be approached to provide support.

Guinea's borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia run through forest regions where transport and communication infrastructure is virtually non-existent.

A BBC correspondent in the region says that though West African leaders are aware of the need for urgent action to prevent the regional crisis from escalating, it will be difficult for a poorly equipped and relatively small force to carry out its mandate.